Hi Carson Ward Family,
Congratulations Donna Janet! Donna won our February FREE Monthly Drawing. She won an Emergency Tri-fold Shovel and a Combination Hatchet, Crowbar and hammer for her 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag.
February is almost over, and Spring is just almost upon us! I love Spring! Everything is new, flowers, plants and trees are blooming, birds are singing and teach their young to fly, and the air is fresh and cool. March is gardening month! Time to get out the shovels and dig up a space for your vegetable garden and/or purchase containers for a container vegetable garden, add vegetable fertilizer, purchase vegetable plants and seeds and plant your garden. Remember, your vegetable garden needs at least 8 hours of sun a day. This month's Ensign (March 2011 issue) has a fabulous article about gardening, "Seeds of Self-Reliance", page 61. For those of you who do not get the Ensign see below how to access the article online. Remember, if you need help planning and planting your vegetable garden please ask me and I would love to help you. If you need help digging up an area for your vegetable garden, I am sure the Young Men and/or Priesthood would love to help you. Someday ,the only way to get vegetables may be to grown them ourselves, why not start now so you will know how when the time comes, it will be the only way to get produce. In the Summer we will have classes on how to freeze and can what we have grown. Let's all find some way to be Self-Reliant!
Quote:
"The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the Ark was to the people in the days of Noah." President Ezra Taft Benson
"We will see the day when we live on what we produce." President Marion G. Romney
""Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through home production and storage, but others as well." (President Ezra Taft Benson, October 1980 Conference talk or Ensign, November 1980, page 34)
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
Please add the following:
1) compass (You will need this if you are away from home to help you know your direction with your street maps. You can purchase these at most camping supply stores, survival stores, department stores in their camping/sports section. If you have the 5-in-1 Survival Whistle form emergencyessentials.com it has a compass included (should be in your individual stressor kit in your 72 Hour Personal Emergency Bag), $2.95, on sale for February $.99 plus $6 shipping. Great to add some other items on the list from Emergency Essentials to off-set the shipping price.)
2) sun block (one tube or bottle, you may be out in the sun, you do not want your family to get sun burnt)
3) insect repellent (one tube, bottle or can, you may be outside in the evenings, you do not want mosquito bits or other insect bites.
4) pocket knife (you can purchase this at camping/sport goods stores, survival stores, department stores)
This finishes up our 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag except one item that will be up to you if you want to include it.
Each family should have one good set of Walkie Talkies. Why? You never know when you might become separated or have to separate. This way you can communicate with each other (adults) as far as the Walkie Talkies will work. Make sure you keep extra batteries with them. You have a choice if you want to keep them in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack or one in each of the two adult 72 Hour Emergency Individual Backpacks. When our daughter and her family moved to Missouri they were driving two cars. Sometimes cell phones did not work in some areas, but the Walkie Talkies did, it allowing them to communicate with each other. You never know when you might have to take two cars to evacuate or one needs to leave to check on other family members or ward members. Cell phones will probably not work if there is a major disaster, texting will probably work if you have texting on your phone.
Weekly Challenge:
Planting a Vegetable Garden:
"Seeds of Self-Reliance" by Allie Schutle--such a great article about how important it is, and that anyone can grow a vegetable garden, even a small one. I tried to cut and paste the article here but was not able too. If you do not get the Ensign, to read the article in this month's March 2011 Ensign, "Seeds of Self-Reliance", go to lds.org, click on Ensign, March 2011, scroll down through the table of contents and click on the article or go to "Seeds of Self-Reliance by Allie Schutle" on Google (2nd item listed).
This week's Challenge:
Continue to work on getting your vegetable garden area prepared for planting or purchasing containers. Do not put the vegetable fertilizer in until you are ready to plant. The article above has great ideas. We should start planting the middle of March. Plan out what you want to plant. Involve the whole family, children love planting and what them grow. Only plant what your family will eat!
Plants I buy: tomatoes: bell peppers, onion bulbs (green and brown/yellow ones), lettuce, celery, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and broccoli.
Seeds I buy: zucchini, pumpkin (they take a lot of room), cantaloupe, cucumber, carrots, peas, corn, beans (all types), green onions.
Next week I will share with you some great tips on planting the vegetable plants and seeds to have a successful vegetable garden.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Weekly Challenge and Assingment (Week of February 20th)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Quote:
"Remember the counsel that is given," "...Store up all your grain, and take care of it." "...And I tell you it is almost as necessary to have bread to sustain the body as it is to have food for the spirit; for the one is as necessary as the other to enable us to carry on the work of God upon the earth." Elder Orson Hyde (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 17)
Several years our daughter Penny and her young family were living in Atascadero, Central California. There was a huge fire in the area and they were told to evacuate. They had 15 minutes to gather their small family, the cat and as many of their personal belongs they could kit into their car. She called us panicked with what they should take. I told her to take all their important documents (which were in different places in the apartment, any computer disks they had important information on, family photos, journals, her wedding dress, things for the girls (clothes, diaper, etc) and other important things they would like to save. They quickly gathered things together, put the 2 small girls in one car with our son-in-law driving, the cat in the other car with Penny driving, and left. They could not communicate with each other, they drove through heavy traffic with others evacuating, through thick smoke making it difficult to see with fire all around them, and down through the mountain pass towards Moral Bay along the coast. After a very frightening experience they made it to the Moral Bay coast. Thankfully, they were alright and together. Thankfully, the fire never reached their apartment and they were able to go home after a few days. Why am I sharing this story with you?
This is why I encourage each family member to have a 72 Hour Emergency Personal Kit for each family member and a 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack. You never know when you might have to evacuate your home, with only a few minutes to do so. You also need to keep family photos, important papers, family heirlooms, etc together or easily to access in a few minutes. The event would still be frightful and stressful, but not as much if you had these things in order. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
Please add the following:
1) hatchet (emergencyessentials.com has one with a hatchet, crowbar, and hammer for $4.95. Be careful when putting this in your Family Pack, it is very sharp, wrap a wash cloth around the blade for protection.)
2) small tool kit (flat head and Phillip's screw drivers, pliers and wrench. Put them in a large zip lock bag wrapped with a wash cloth around the points. The 99 Cent Store, garage sales, and swap meets may be a good place to purchase these items for a small amount of money if you do not have extra ones at home to put in your Family Pack.)
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first aid-kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio or solar radio with extra batteries
4) hand can opener if you have cans that will need opening
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits (if more than 1-2 people in your family)
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife with multi-functions
14) wet stone to sharpen your knife & hatchet
15) small sewing kit
16) fold up shovel
17) small hand mirror for signally
18) emergency flares and candles
19) hatchet
20) small tool kit (flat head and Phillip's screw drivers, pliers, wrench)
Weekly Challenge:
Continue to work on setting up your vegetable garden or contain vegetable garden. Even if it is a small herb garden in small Tera Cotta pots you can set on your window sill. We will start planting around the middle of March. See last weeks Challenge for instructions.
Remember: Post your name and comment (if you wish) at the end of this posting for our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held next Sunday, February 27th.
Quote:
"Remember the counsel that is given," "...Store up all your grain, and take care of it." "...And I tell you it is almost as necessary to have bread to sustain the body as it is to have food for the spirit; for the one is as necessary as the other to enable us to carry on the work of God upon the earth." Elder Orson Hyde (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 17)
Several years our daughter Penny and her young family were living in Atascadero, Central California. There was a huge fire in the area and they were told to evacuate. They had 15 minutes to gather their small family, the cat and as many of their personal belongs they could kit into their car. She called us panicked with what they should take. I told her to take all their important documents (which were in different places in the apartment, any computer disks they had important information on, family photos, journals, her wedding dress, things for the girls (clothes, diaper, etc) and other important things they would like to save. They quickly gathered things together, put the 2 small girls in one car with our son-in-law driving, the cat in the other car with Penny driving, and left. They could not communicate with each other, they drove through heavy traffic with others evacuating, through thick smoke making it difficult to see with fire all around them, and down through the mountain pass towards Moral Bay along the coast. After a very frightening experience they made it to the Moral Bay coast. Thankfully, they were alright and together. Thankfully, the fire never reached their apartment and they were able to go home after a few days. Why am I sharing this story with you?
This is why I encourage each family member to have a 72 Hour Emergency Personal Kit for each family member and a 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack. You never know when you might have to evacuate your home, with only a few minutes to do so. You also need to keep family photos, important papers, family heirlooms, etc together or easily to access in a few minutes. The event would still be frightful and stressful, but not as much if you had these things in order. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
Please add the following:
1) hatchet (emergencyessentials.com has one with a hatchet, crowbar, and hammer for $4.95. Be careful when putting this in your Family Pack, it is very sharp, wrap a wash cloth around the blade for protection.)
2) small tool kit (flat head and Phillip's screw drivers, pliers and wrench. Put them in a large zip lock bag wrapped with a wash cloth around the points. The 99 Cent Store, garage sales, and swap meets may be a good place to purchase these items for a small amount of money if you do not have extra ones at home to put in your Family Pack.)
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first aid-kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio or solar radio with extra batteries
4) hand can opener if you have cans that will need opening
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits (if more than 1-2 people in your family)
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife with multi-functions
14) wet stone to sharpen your knife & hatchet
15) small sewing kit
16) fold up shovel
17) small hand mirror for signally
18) emergency flares and candles
19) hatchet
20) small tool kit (flat head and Phillip's screw drivers, pliers, wrench)
Weekly Challenge:
Continue to work on setting up your vegetable garden or contain vegetable garden. Even if it is a small herb garden in small Tera Cotta pots you can set on your window sill. We will start planting around the middle of March. See last weeks Challenge for instructions.
Remember: Post your name and comment (if you wish) at the end of this posting for our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held next Sunday, February 27th.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of February 13th)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Quote:
"...If we are to be saved in an ark, as Noah and his family were, it will be because we built it.... My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc., He will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain fruits of the earth, to make habitations, to produce a few boards to make a box, and when harvest comes, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it--to save the wheat until we have one, two, five or seven years' provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking for safety." (Marion G. Romney, Quoting Brigham Young, April Conference, 1976)
Recently I received an email, and some of you may have also received it, stating food prices will rise significantly and some foods/crops may become short handled and/or unavailable due to the recent weather related disasters throughout the world. I am not sure of the source of this email article and how accurate it is. But let's say it is accurate, how prepared are we for these types of events that will affect our food sources?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made this statement:
"Every year natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes, challenge agricultural production. Because agriculture relies on the weather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily impacted by natural events and disasters. Agricultural impacts from natural events and disasters most commonly include: contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or livestock, increased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long lasting effects on agricultural production including, crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature."
Brothers and Sisters, times are going to get tough and we need to be ready to provide for ourselves and our family. The Prophets and General Authorities have been counseling us for years to have Food Storage and Water. What are we waiting for? Later will be to late!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week please add the following:
1) fold up shovel ($8.95 on emergencyessentials.com)
2) small hand mirror (for signally)
3) emergency flares and candles
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener if you have cans that will need opening
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches)
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife with multi-functions
14) wet stone to sharpen your knife & hatchet
15) small sewing kit
16) fold up shovel
17) small hand mirror for signally
18) emergency flares and candles
Weekly Challenge:
7-14 day Menu Plan Food Storage System--I hope everyone has set this system up and is working on storing 3 Months Food Supply. After the 3 months, work on 6 months and then 9 months and then a Years' Food Supply. Before you know it, using this system, you will be way on your way to storing your Years' Food Supply. Remember the scripture in Isaiah 28:10--"..., precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little", in other words, one item at at time and you will meet your goal.
This week's Challenge:
I am so excited, Spring is almost upon us! March is the time to plant your vegetable garden. Now is the time to work on setting a goal to have a vegetable garden and/or vegetable container garden. If you do not have room where you live, see if you can get together with another ward member to see if you can plant a vegetable garden with them. If you are a family ask one of the single members or a family to plant a garden with you. They are so much fun, work yes, but the blessings that come from your own vegetable garden are so rewarding! I loved this past summer, being able to go out to our vegetable garden and get fresh vegetables when I needed them, and how much money we saved in the process. We had so much I was able to freeze the vegetables we could not eat. We are still using them. This year I am going to learn how to can them. I even had enough to share with my family, friends and neighbors. It was amazing how much we harvested from the small amount of land we planted.
See the Vegetable Garden Posting regarding vegetables gardens:
My Challenge to you this week:
1) locate a place where you want to plant your garden and map it out, if you are doing container gardening, then decide how many containers you will need and where to put them, you need at least 8 hours of sun a day, purchase the containers
2) start getting the area dug up, pull out all the grass and weeds, if a container garden purchase the vegetable garden soil at your local garden shop. I will give you two weeks to accomplish this goal.
3) make a plan as to what you want to grow
ONLY PLANT WHAT YOUR FAMILY WILL EAT!!!
If you need help, please do not hesitate to ask me. I would love to help you plan and prepare your garden. If you are not physically able to dig up the area, ask the Scouts or Elders Quorum to help you.
NOTE: You feel you do not have enough room, even a small garden is better than nothing!
Remember: Post your name and comment (if you wish) at the end of this posting for the Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, February 27th. It is two items for your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag.
Quote:
"...If we are to be saved in an ark, as Noah and his family were, it will be because we built it.... My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc., He will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain fruits of the earth, to make habitations, to produce a few boards to make a box, and when harvest comes, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it--to save the wheat until we have one, two, five or seven years' provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking for safety." (Marion G. Romney, Quoting Brigham Young, April Conference, 1976)
Recently I received an email, and some of you may have also received it, stating food prices will rise significantly and some foods/crops may become short handled and/or unavailable due to the recent weather related disasters throughout the world. I am not sure of the source of this email article and how accurate it is. But let's say it is accurate, how prepared are we for these types of events that will affect our food sources?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made this statement:
"Every year natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes, challenge agricultural production. Because agriculture relies on the weather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily impacted by natural events and disasters. Agricultural impacts from natural events and disasters most commonly include: contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or livestock, increased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long lasting effects on agricultural production including, crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature."
Brothers and Sisters, times are going to get tough and we need to be ready to provide for ourselves and our family. The Prophets and General Authorities have been counseling us for years to have Food Storage and Water. What are we waiting for? Later will be to late!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week please add the following:
1) fold up shovel ($8.95 on emergencyessentials.com)
2) small hand mirror (for signally)
3) emergency flares and candles
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener if you have cans that will need opening
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches)
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife with multi-functions
14) wet stone to sharpen your knife & hatchet
15) small sewing kit
16) fold up shovel
17) small hand mirror for signally
18) emergency flares and candles
Weekly Challenge:
7-14 day Menu Plan Food Storage System--I hope everyone has set this system up and is working on storing 3 Months Food Supply. After the 3 months, work on 6 months and then 9 months and then a Years' Food Supply. Before you know it, using this system, you will be way on your way to storing your Years' Food Supply. Remember the scripture in Isaiah 28:10--"..., precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little", in other words, one item at at time and you will meet your goal.
This week's Challenge:
I am so excited, Spring is almost upon us! March is the time to plant your vegetable garden. Now is the time to work on setting a goal to have a vegetable garden and/or vegetable container garden. If you do not have room where you live, see if you can get together with another ward member to see if you can plant a vegetable garden with them. If you are a family ask one of the single members or a family to plant a garden with you. They are so much fun, work yes, but the blessings that come from your own vegetable garden are so rewarding! I loved this past summer, being able to go out to our vegetable garden and get fresh vegetables when I needed them, and how much money we saved in the process. We had so much I was able to freeze the vegetables we could not eat. We are still using them. This year I am going to learn how to can them. I even had enough to share with my family, friends and neighbors. It was amazing how much we harvested from the small amount of land we planted.
See the Vegetable Garden Posting regarding vegetables gardens:
My Challenge to you this week:
1) locate a place where you want to plant your garden and map it out, if you are doing container gardening, then decide how many containers you will need and where to put them, you need at least 8 hours of sun a day, purchase the containers
2) start getting the area dug up, pull out all the grass and weeds, if a container garden purchase the vegetable garden soil at your local garden shop. I will give you two weeks to accomplish this goal.
3) make a plan as to what you want to grow
ONLY PLANT WHAT YOUR FAMILY WILL EAT!!!
If you need help, please do not hesitate to ask me. I would love to help you plan and prepare your garden. If you are not physically able to dig up the area, ask the Scouts or Elders Quorum to help you.
NOTE: You feel you do not have enough room, even a small garden is better than nothing!
Remember: Post your name and comment (if you wish) at the end of this posting for the Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, February 27th. It is two items for your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of February 6th)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Quote:
"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year's supply. You don't argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organize and get it done." Spencer W. Kimball, August 1976
".... Great trails lie ahead...and we must prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually." Bruce R. McConkie
This past week has been a challenging time for the people in the middle states and east coast with enormous amounts of snow, wind, ice and below zero temperatures. They say this is the worst winter storm since the 1970's. We have family and friends who live in those areas that were hit hard. Our daughter, who lives in Missouri, had snow up to the back door door knob. The roads are undriveable, schools and business have been closed all week with more snow on the way this weekend. They have been shut in their home all week, not able to get out onto the roads. Other family members and friends are facing the same scenario.
Would you be able to take care of your family if something like this happened to you? Are you prepared enough to handle an emergency situation? Would you have enough food to eat, water to drink if no public drinking water was available, a way to heat and light your home if there was no gas or electricity? A way to cook your food? These are questions we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. How prepared are we?
Ward Family, I am trying my best to get the information to you, to help you so you can be prepared for what ever may come your way. It is not only important we are prepared spiritually, but temporally too! This blog/website is to help you be prepared. It is not my responsibility to fish for you, but I will do all that is possible to teach you how to fish, so you will always be able to take care of yourself and your loved ones. This blog/website is dedicated for this purpose. It is an accumulation of 40 years of experience. Take advantage of it, use it to help you prepare!
I testify to you, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." If Heavenly Father sees you are putting in a honest effort, he will bless you with the things you need, not wants, but needs. I testify to you of this!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag;
Add the following--
1) utility knife (12 function Army/Survival knife with scissors. I found this on emrgencyessentails.com for $4.95. They can cost as much as $50-$100 depending on the name brand, type you get and where you get them.)
2) wet stone--to sharpen your knife and hatchet (I found this at most sporting good stores, survival stores and Harbor Freight for $3.00.)
3) small sewing kit (Do not purchase this, but your own together. Wrap different colors of thread around a piece of cardboard, put in a couple of sewing needles, buttons and safety pins. I put mine in a small plastic container I got at the 99 Cent Store, comes with 4 of them.)
You should have the following in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or a solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of mashing tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife
14) wet stone
15) small sewing kit
Weekly Challenge:
Last Sunday I gave you the chart, "Food Storage Grocery List", to use to inventory your emergency food storage and to determine how much you have and how much you need to purchase if you are using the 7-14 Day Year's Food Storage Menu Plan.
Now that you have your families favorite 7-14 breakfast and dinner dishes on the two different colored 3x5 cards, have listed the ingredients and amounts of each one for each dish on the card (a separate card for each receipe), and have multiplied the ingredient amounts by either 52 weeks or 26 weeks (depending on if you are using the 7 day or 14 day weekly menu), you are ready to complete the "Food Storage Grocery List" chart. You should also have the ingredients "equivalency information" chart I gave you last Sunday.
1) List all the ingredients you will need alphbetically on the chart in the "Item" column.
2) List in the "Meal" column all the dishes (by name) that use this ingredient.
3) List in the "Need" column how much you will need for a year for that ingredient
4) In the "Have" column list where the item is stored in your house. Example: Under our bedroom bed or closet, etc. Then put down how much you have and the expiration date on the items.
5) In the "Buy" column figure out how much you still need to buy
Put these pages in sheet protectors and put them into a notebook. Each time you go to the grocery store take the notebook with you. When you see an items on sale that you still need you can purchase it and make the changes on your chart from "Buy" to "Have". Make sure you keep tract of when items need to be rotated. Take them from your Food Storage and put them into your pantry for current use and buy new ones to place the ones you are rotating.
Once you get into the habit of this it will seem so easy. I love this method. In stead of trying to store everything your family eats in a year, which is almost impossible, you are only storing the 7-14 breakfast and dinner meals. If you want to, on the dish card, on the back, include bread, side dish and a dessert. Make sure you include those on your chart.
You may be asking, what about lunch? When in an emergency situation you will need to do most of your cooking in the day light, especially if you are using an outdoors solar oven, so have your larger meal for lunch and make your evening meal simple, leftovers, sandwiches, soups, etc.
This may seem a little confusing right now. I plan to do a class on this at our Ward Emergency Prepared Fair I am working on to have either in the Spring or Summer. I am happy to sit down with you to help you with this great and easy plan to figure out how much to store for you and your family for a year.
Remember: Post your name at the end of this posting for the "FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing". The item will be 2 things for your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag. Good luck to all who enter!
Quote:
"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year's supply. You don't argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organize and get it done." Spencer W. Kimball, August 1976
".... Great trails lie ahead...and we must prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually." Bruce R. McConkie
This past week has been a challenging time for the people in the middle states and east coast with enormous amounts of snow, wind, ice and below zero temperatures. They say this is the worst winter storm since the 1970's. We have family and friends who live in those areas that were hit hard. Our daughter, who lives in Missouri, had snow up to the back door door knob. The roads are undriveable, schools and business have been closed all week with more snow on the way this weekend. They have been shut in their home all week, not able to get out onto the roads. Other family members and friends are facing the same scenario.
Would you be able to take care of your family if something like this happened to you? Are you prepared enough to handle an emergency situation? Would you have enough food to eat, water to drink if no public drinking water was available, a way to heat and light your home if there was no gas or electricity? A way to cook your food? These are questions we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. How prepared are we?
Ward Family, I am trying my best to get the information to you, to help you so you can be prepared for what ever may come your way. It is not only important we are prepared spiritually, but temporally too! This blog/website is to help you be prepared. It is not my responsibility to fish for you, but I will do all that is possible to teach you how to fish, so you will always be able to take care of yourself and your loved ones. This blog/website is dedicated for this purpose. It is an accumulation of 40 years of experience. Take advantage of it, use it to help you prepare!
I testify to you, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." If Heavenly Father sees you are putting in a honest effort, he will bless you with the things you need, not wants, but needs. I testify to you of this!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag;
Add the following--
1) utility knife (12 function Army/Survival knife with scissors. I found this on emrgencyessentails.com for $4.95. They can cost as much as $50-$100 depending on the name brand, type you get and where you get them.)
2) wet stone--to sharpen your knife and hatchet (I found this at most sporting good stores, survival stores and Harbor Freight for $3.00.)
3) small sewing kit (Do not purchase this, but your own together. Wrap different colors of thread around a piece of cardboard, put in a couple of sewing needles, buttons and safety pins. I put mine in a small plastic container I got at the 99 Cent Store, comes with 4 of them.)
You should have the following in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or a solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener
5) large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of mashing tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
13) utility knife
14) wet stone
15) small sewing kit
Weekly Challenge:
Last Sunday I gave you the chart, "Food Storage Grocery List", to use to inventory your emergency food storage and to determine how much you have and how much you need to purchase if you are using the 7-14 Day Year's Food Storage Menu Plan.
Now that you have your families favorite 7-14 breakfast and dinner dishes on the two different colored 3x5 cards, have listed the ingredients and amounts of each one for each dish on the card (a separate card for each receipe), and have multiplied the ingredient amounts by either 52 weeks or 26 weeks (depending on if you are using the 7 day or 14 day weekly menu), you are ready to complete the "Food Storage Grocery List" chart. You should also have the ingredients "equivalency information" chart I gave you last Sunday.
1) List all the ingredients you will need alphbetically on the chart in the "Item" column.
2) List in the "Meal" column all the dishes (by name) that use this ingredient.
3) List in the "Need" column how much you will need for a year for that ingredient
4) In the "Have" column list where the item is stored in your house. Example: Under our bedroom bed or closet, etc. Then put down how much you have and the expiration date on the items.
5) In the "Buy" column figure out how much you still need to buy
Put these pages in sheet protectors and put them into a notebook. Each time you go to the grocery store take the notebook with you. When you see an items on sale that you still need you can purchase it and make the changes on your chart from "Buy" to "Have". Make sure you keep tract of when items need to be rotated. Take them from your Food Storage and put them into your pantry for current use and buy new ones to place the ones you are rotating.
Once you get into the habit of this it will seem so easy. I love this method. In stead of trying to store everything your family eats in a year, which is almost impossible, you are only storing the 7-14 breakfast and dinner meals. If you want to, on the dish card, on the back, include bread, side dish and a dessert. Make sure you include those on your chart.
You may be asking, what about lunch? When in an emergency situation you will need to do most of your cooking in the day light, especially if you are using an outdoors solar oven, so have your larger meal for lunch and make your evening meal simple, leftovers, sandwiches, soups, etc.
This may seem a little confusing right now. I plan to do a class on this at our Ward Emergency Prepared Fair I am working on to have either in the Spring or Summer. I am happy to sit down with you to help you with this great and easy plan to figure out how much to store for you and your family for a year.
Remember: Post your name at the end of this posting for the "FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing". The item will be 2 things for your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag. Good luck to all who enter!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of January 30th)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Congratulations to Sister Barbara Holland! She won the FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing today, January 30th. She won a Small Folding Stove with 2 Heat Cell cans for her 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack.
Quote:
"Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church -- and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing -- a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned." (God, Family, Country, page 383)
Currently I am reading in 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. In Chapter 3 & 4 it talks about how the Nephites and the Lamanites united and gathered together in the lands of Zarahemla and Bountiful to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi , they brought their families, all their provisions, grains (food), flocks, herds and all their substance together. Because of them doing this they were able to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi. The armies of Giddianhi were weak because they had few provisions. In Chapter 4:18 we read, "But behold, this was an advantage of the Nephites; for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much provisions which they had laid up in store".
This is a testimony to me of the importance of storing up food, water and emergency supplies for our family. If we are prepared we will be able to fight the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi in our days. If we fortify ourselves, as the Nephites and Lamanites did, we will be able to protect and provide for our family. How important it is to store the necessary items to protect our family from what may come some day!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week add the following:
1) 2 Mess kits (2 per Family Pack/Bag should be enough to warm up soups, water, etc for a family.) On emergencyessentials.com they are about $6. You can also purchase them at department stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) in their camping/sports section, surplus survival stores or Boy Scout shops (you may pay more).
2) Street map of the near by towns--cost about $5 (You can purchase these from most gas stations, AAA Auto Club (if a member), or make copies out of your Thomas Guide of local towns. In an emergency situation you may need to know alternate routes if areas are not accessible.)
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or a solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener
5) extra large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
Weekly Challenge:
How to figuring out how much you will need for a years supply of food for your family--
By now you should have done the following (this is a great thing to involve the whole family with, especially picking out their favorite dishes):
1) a list of your favorite breakfasts and dinners you cook for your family
2) decided if you want to do the 7 day menu plan or the 14 day menu plan, or a 7 day menu plan for breakfast with a 14 day menu plan for dinner
3) you should have chosen 7-14 each of breakfasts and dinners and put each dish on a separate 3x5 file card (different color cards for breakfast and dinner), giving you 7-14 breakfast dishes and 7-14 dinner dishes
4) you should have put down the ingredients and measurements for each dish on each card
4) you should have either multiplied each ingredient amount by 52 weeks or 26 weeks (depending on if you are using the 7 day or 14 day menu plan) and determined how much of each ingredient you will need for a years supply. I will give you the chart to figure out how much you need for a year this Sunday.
This weeks challenge:
This Sunday I will give you a chart to help you purchase those items. It is an easy way to know what you need, how much you already have and how much you need to purchase. Fill in the chart listing the food items alphabetically. Follow the instructions with the chart.
Congratulations to Sister Barbara Holland! She won the FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing today, January 30th. She won a Small Folding Stove with 2 Heat Cell cans for her 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack.
Quote:
"Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church -- and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing -- a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned." (God, Family, Country, page 383)
Currently I am reading in 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. In Chapter 3 & 4 it talks about how the Nephites and the Lamanites united and gathered together in the lands of Zarahemla and Bountiful to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi , they brought their families, all their provisions, grains (food), flocks, herds and all their substance together. Because of them doing this they were able to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi. The armies of Giddianhi were weak because they had few provisions. In Chapter 4:18 we read, "But behold, this was an advantage of the Nephites; for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much provisions which they had laid up in store".
This is a testimony to me of the importance of storing up food, water and emergency supplies for our family. If we are prepared we will be able to fight the Gadianton robbers and the armies of Giddianhi in our days. If we fortify ourselves, as the Nephites and Lamanites did, we will be able to protect and provide for our family. How important it is to store the necessary items to protect our family from what may come some day!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week add the following:
1) 2 Mess kits (2 per Family Pack/Bag should be enough to warm up soups, water, etc for a family.) On emergencyessentials.com they are about $6. You can also purchase them at department stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) in their camping/sports section, surplus survival stores or Boy Scout shops (you may pay more).
2) Street map of the near by towns--cost about $5 (You can purchase these from most gas stations, AAA Auto Club (if a member), or make copies out of your Thomas Guide of local towns. In an emergency situation you may need to know alternate routes if areas are not accessible.)
You should have the following items in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or a solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener
5) extra large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
11) 2 Mess kits
12) street map of local areas
Weekly Challenge:
How to figuring out how much you will need for a years supply of food for your family--
By now you should have done the following (this is a great thing to involve the whole family with, especially picking out their favorite dishes):
1) a list of your favorite breakfasts and dinners you cook for your family
2) decided if you want to do the 7 day menu plan or the 14 day menu plan, or a 7 day menu plan for breakfast with a 14 day menu plan for dinner
3) you should have chosen 7-14 each of breakfasts and dinners and put each dish on a separate 3x5 file card (different color cards for breakfast and dinner), giving you 7-14 breakfast dishes and 7-14 dinner dishes
4) you should have put down the ingredients and measurements for each dish on each card
4) you should have either multiplied each ingredient amount by 52 weeks or 26 weeks (depending on if you are using the 7 day or 14 day menu plan) and determined how much of each ingredient you will need for a years supply. I will give you the chart to figure out how much you need for a year this Sunday.
This weeks challenge:
This Sunday I will give you a chart to help you purchase those items. It is an easy way to know what you need, how much you already have and how much you need to purchase. Fill in the chart listing the food items alphabetically. Follow the instructions with the chart.
How to use the chart I gave you this Sunday (Jan. 30th) at church. If you did not get a copy please see Sister Cuppett or call her at 310-835-0902.
"Organize all of the information from your cards into a notebook. Make a chart or table that alphabetically lists all the foods from your recipe cards. The chart has 5 columns. The first column lists the food item. The next lists all the meals that food item is in. The third column lists how many cups, cans, or jars are needed. The fourth lists how much of that item I have and the fifth, how much I need to buy."
Note: If you do not know what to do for the above, see the last few Weekly Challenge and Assignment postings below.
Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of this blog posting to have your name put into our January 30th FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing. Good luck to all who enter!Saturday, January 22, 2011
Weely Challenge and Assignment (Week of January 23rd)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Quote:
"Say I, Wake-up, ye Saints of Zion, while it is called today, lest trouble and sorrow come upon you, as a thief in the night. Suppose it is not coming, will it hurt you to lay up the products of the earth for seven years? Will it hurt you, if you have your home in order? I want the world to know that we are ready for anything that comes along. If it s good, we are ready for that; and if it is evil, we are ready to stand against it." Herber C. Kimball
Brothers and Sisters of Carson Ward, are we ready for what may come our way, are we at least striving to become ready? We have not been asked to store 7 years of food, but we have been counseled to be prepared. Years ago the Church leaders advised the members to have a 2 years supply of food, then 1 year supply of food and now to strive for 3 months supply of food. We are still admonished to have a 1 years supply of food but our General Authorities thought it might seem more feasible to first strive for 3 months supply of food, then add to it until we have a years supply of food. We are also counseled to have water stored and fuel where possible. With the new way I have learned about, on how to figure out how much your family will need, it will become easier to do. See the Weekly Challenge below after the Weekly Assignment. Our 72 Hour Kits are not our food storage, they are for immediate emergencies when we might need to evacuate our homes or are away from our homes (why you should also have them in your car and at work). We need to set a goal with our family, and strive for a 3 months supply of food and water and then work on a years supply of food and emergency items. May we as a Ward be the most prepared Ward in our Stake. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"!!!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week add the following:
1) Heat Cell Fuel (They give you 5 hours of heat for cooking, 10 hours of warmth. I found them at EmergencyEssentials.com for $3.50 each. I have one for each family member.) The reason for this items is you probably have soup and hot chocolate/apple cider in your 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits that will need heating.
2) Flat Fuel Folding Stove (I found these at EmergencyEssentials.com for $7.95, you may be able to find them at surplus survival stores or camping/sporting stores.)
Quote:
"Say I, Wake-up, ye Saints of Zion, while it is called today, lest trouble and sorrow come upon you, as a thief in the night. Suppose it is not coming, will it hurt you to lay up the products of the earth for seven years? Will it hurt you, if you have your home in order? I want the world to know that we are ready for anything that comes along. If it s good, we are ready for that; and if it is evil, we are ready to stand against it." Herber C. Kimball
Brothers and Sisters of Carson Ward, are we ready for what may come our way, are we at least striving to become ready? We have not been asked to store 7 years of food, but we have been counseled to be prepared. Years ago the Church leaders advised the members to have a 2 years supply of food, then 1 year supply of food and now to strive for 3 months supply of food. We are still admonished to have a 1 years supply of food but our General Authorities thought it might seem more feasible to first strive for 3 months supply of food, then add to it until we have a years supply of food. We are also counseled to have water stored and fuel where possible. With the new way I have learned about, on how to figure out how much your family will need, it will become easier to do. See the Weekly Challenge below after the Weekly Assignment. Our 72 Hour Kits are not our food storage, they are for immediate emergencies when we might need to evacuate our homes or are away from our homes (why you should also have them in your car and at work). We need to set a goal with our family, and strive for a 3 months supply of food and water and then work on a years supply of food and emergency items. May we as a Ward be the most prepared Ward in our Stake. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"!!!
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
This week add the following:
1) Heat Cell Fuel (They give you 5 hours of heat for cooking, 10 hours of warmth. I found them at EmergencyEssentials.com for $3.50 each. I have one for each family member.) The reason for this items is you probably have soup and hot chocolate/apple cider in your 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits that will need heating.
2) Flat Fuel Folding Stove (I found these at EmergencyEssentials.com for $7.95, you may be able to find them at surplus survival stores or camping/sporting stores.)
3) Water Proof Matches (I also found these at EmergencyEssentials.com for $.85-$3.00. If they are not in your Personal 72 Hour Emergency Kit, then add some here, you may want to have extra in the Family Pack/Bag. You can also purchase them at surplus survival stores and camping/sporting good stores.)
So far you should have the following in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Pack/Bag:
1) duffel bag to put the items in
2) first-aid kit with a First-aid book
3) portable radio with extra batteries (or a solar radio with extra batteries)
4) hand can opener (not electric)
5) extra large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) roll of masking tape
8) heat cell fuel
9) flat fuel folding stove
10) water proof matches
Weekly Challenge:
Last week I asked you to gather a list of your family's favorite breakfast and dinner dishes that you make. This week I want you to purchase some colored 3x5 file cards (you will need two colors, 7-14 of each). You can either plan a weekly menu or a two week menu. If you are only going to plan a weekly menu then you will need 7 cards for breakfast and 7 cards for dinner. If you are going to plan a two week menu then you will need 14 cards for breakfast and 14 cards for dinner (different color than the breakfast ones).
If you plan the weekly menu, your family will eat the same thing each week. If you plan the two week menu, your family will eat different dishes for two weeks. Personal I like the two week menu best, more variety. They may get tired of eating the same thing each week for months.
Place a different breakfast dish on each card, giving you 7 or 14 different breakfast dishes. Place a different dinner dish on each card (different color card), giving you 7 or 14 different dinner dishes. Then put down on each card the ingredients for that dish and the measurements. If you are doing the weekly menu then multiply each ingredient by 52 weeks (number of weeks in a year). If you are doing the two week menu, then multiply by 26 weeks. This will give you the amount of food you need to purchase for a year using the weekly or two week menu. If you want to start with 3 months first then multiply by the number of weeks in 3 months, 12 weeks (remember, some months have an extra week) for the weekly menu and 6 weeks for the two week menu.
Note: You may only be able to come up with 7 breakfast ideas and 14 dinner ideas for a two week menu. That is ok. If you have only 7 breakfast ideas for the two week menu, then remember to multiply the 7 breakfast dishes by 52 weeks and the 14 dinner dishes by 26 weeks. Best to not do more than a two week menu, will involve to many dishes and more items to store.
This week at church I will hand out the table to figure out how much of each ingredient in your receipt you will need to store, mostly for teaspoons, tablespoons, cups and pounds.
Next week I will give you the chart to help you purchase these items, keep track of what you have and what you need to purchase.
Remember: Post your name at the end of each months Weekly Challenge and Assignment for our FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held on Sunday, January 30th. Good luck to all you enter!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of January 16th)
Hi Carson Ward Family,
Quote:
"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earth quake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion." (Ezra Taft Benson, October General Conference, 1980 Ensign, November 1980, pages 32-33)
Quote:
"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earth quake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion." (Ezra Taft Benson, October General Conference, 1980 Ensign, November 1980, pages 32-33)
As I think about the quote above from President Ezra Taft Benson I realize how true this statement is. How many of us think there are months, years before we need to work on our Emergency Food and Water Storage, our 72 Hour Emergency Kits and other emergency supplies our family will need, and procrastinate getting started or completing our goal? It is so easy to get involved with the temporal daily task at hand. Emergency Preparedness should be at the top of our goals for our self and our family. Not only is Emergency Preparedness temporal, but it is also spiritual. We have been counseled and warned by our General Authorities and our Stake and Ward Leaders to be prepared. We may never need our emergency supplies, like food, water, and our 72 Hour Kits, but I do not want to be left without them if something does happen. I want peace of mind knowing that I am trying my best to prepare and are working towards a goal of Emergency Preparedness for my family. I can testify to you that if we are truly trying the Lord will bless us and our families with the things we will need. The main thing to do is just get started, set some goals, even if it is an extra can of vegetables or soup each week, it is a start.
Weekly Assignment:
72 Hour Family Emergency Duffel Bag:
This week please add the following:
1) Extra large waterproof tarp--maybe 10x14(can be used to make shelter along with the nylon rope and masking tape below) (cost $5-$15 depending on where you go.)
2) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
3) Roll of masking tape (about $8 at Home Depot or Lowe's)
Note: Harbor Freight in Lomita on PCH sometimes has great prices. Check out their weekly add in the sales papers you get in your mail, newspapers, or go online.
So far you should have the following in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Duffel Bag:
1) Duffel bag to put the items in
2) First-aid kit
3) Portable small radio, or solar one, with extra batteries (the free ones we handed out at church, or you received earlier, are great for this)
4) Hand can opener (not electric)
5) Extra large waterproof tarp
6) 50 foot nylon rope/cord
7) Roll of masking tape
Weekly Challenge:
I found a new easier way to determine what you should store for your family for 3 months, 6 months and/or a year. Do the following:
First make a list of all your family's favorite dishes you make to eat, including breakfast and dinner, with the ingredients and amounts for each one. Next week I will tell you what we are going to do with them.
Great News! I finally got them. I work with a company through my work that does fire and water damage restoration. I have been trying to get these for months. They were able to get me 50 red main water shut-0ff tags. These tags are to be put on your main water shut-off valve to let others know where to turn off the water to your house from the main line if there is an emergency where water is coming into your house, or if the neighborhood is alerted to shut off the water due to contamination. Please place the tag on the main water shut-off valve (handle). If you do not know where it is, ask your Home Teacher or a member in the Ward to help you. I only have one per family in the Ward. I am sorry, but they are not for other family members in other areas or your neighbors.
Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of this blog posting for our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held in January at our 5th Sunday joint Relief Society and Priesthood Meeting. Good luck to all you enter!
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